Questions We'll Address... 1. What is a Wiki? 2. What does it look like and what can it do? 3. How easy is it to use? 4. How can you get started? 5. How can you edit a wiki? 6. For what classroom/educational purposes can be wikis be used?
What is a Wiki? "A wiki is a collaborative website and authoring tool that allows users to easily add, remove, and edit content. The name comes from the Hawaiian “wiki-wiki” meaning “quick." Characterized by ease of use, a wiki is an effective tool for collaborative authoring. Adding to a wiki is much like word processing and changes are instantly available. Wiki environments are usually text based, but can incorporate graphics, audio, video, and animation. You're probably already familiar with the world's best-known wiki, Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia collaboratively authored and edited by millions of users." http://newington23things.blogspot.com/2009/06/thing-21-wikis.html
What Can Wikis Be Used For?- As a simple/efficient way to communicate with students (i.e. homework assignments, quiz/test announcements, helpful websites, etc.).
- As a way to organize and coordinate extracurricular activities (i.e. the History Club or the Chess Club).
- As a way to provide students the opportunity to respond (blog-like) to a discussion prompt.
- As a way to share content (uploaded videos, documents, images, maps, etc.) with students - as extension of classroom instruction, or for additional review.
- As a way to foster collaboration among students - (i.e. on group projects).
- Because wikis are an efficient/easy way to communicate information and encourage collaboration, there are nearly endless possibilities for the ways in which they can be used for educational purposes.
Your Turn to Play1. Create an Educational Wiki
Note: Most Wikis require a fee, or annoying advertisements. Educational Wikis, however, are free (no fee) and free (no ads).
Follow these steps to establish your own Wikispace.
A. Go to the following site: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers
Create a Username/Password
Create a Wiki Name. This name will become part the web address/URL for your wiki, so keep it simple, but somewhat unique (e.g. bhartleynhs).
Decide whether your want your wiki to be Public, Protected, or Private. (You can change this setting once the Wiki is created - if you choose.)
Click the "Educational Use" box.
Click "Join".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b08aQe0BXlwAbove is a link to a video that provides help for setting up a Wiki.
2. Begin Editing your Wiki.
A. Click the Edit Tab/Button to the right/top of your Wiki page.
Type some content - maybe "Welcome to Mr./Mrs. 's Wikispace". Then Click "Save".
The content you typed/created is now saved to your wiki.
B. Click the Edit Tab/Button again.
Click the "Insert Table" Button on the Editor Toolbar.
Select a number of rows and columns for the Table.
Tables are one of the easier ways to organize/format content on a Wiki - although they are not necessary.
C. Click the Insert "Images and Files" Button on the Editor Toolbar.
Click the "Upload Files" Tab.
Find a document that you want to upload and insert onto your Wiki.
Once you've found a document (from your "My Documents" or a Jump Drive), double-click it (just like as if you were attaching a document to an email).
Once the document has finished uploading, click the "Insert Files" tab.
Find the document that you just uploaded.
Before selecting the document to insert it into your Wiki, decide whether you want to "Embed File" or "Link to File".
I most often "Link to File" which allows visitors to download/save a copy of that document for themselves.
Once you have selected the document that you want to "Insert", it will post to your Wiki.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPcarUB3QtE Above is a video that provides some help for Editing and Adding Content to a Wiki.
Before going any further, please "Save" the changes that you've made to your Wiki so far.
D. To add a Widget to your Wiki.
A widget is an "add-on" that can be embedded into your Wiki. There are thousands of kinds of widgets - games, interactive maps, videos, surveys/polls, etc. They can be used for fun, to "spice up" your Wiki, or as a way to share useful content/information with students.
Once you've found a widget that you'd like to embed into your Wiki, find and copy the "Embed Code".
Back at your Wiki, make sure you are in "Edit" mode.
Click on the "Embed Widget" button (it looks like a television set) on the Editor Toolbar.
Select "Other" at the bottom of the list that appears.
Past the "Embed Code" into the box provided.
Click "Save". The widget should then appear in your Wiki.
Click "Save" on the Editor Toolbar.
Check to see if your widget works properly.
What else? Your Feeback...The above activities were meant to provide a brief introduction to some of the benefits, functions, and possibilities of a Wikispace.
Now put some of your skills to work. Edit this page and post a question or comment about Wikis below.
(Don't forget to log-in to this wiki in order to make comments/edits below.) http://amuracanhs.wikispaces.com/U.S.+History+Level+I
1. What is a Wiki?
2. What does it look like and what can it do?
3. How easy is it to use?
4. How can you get started?
5. How can you edit a wiki?
6. For what classroom/educational purposes can be wikis be used?
"Wikis in Plain English" by Common Craft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY
"A wiki is a collaborative website and authoring tool that allows users to easily add, remove, and edit content. The name comes from the Hawaiian “wiki-wiki” meaning “quick." Characterized by ease of use, a wiki is an effective tool for collaborative authoring. Adding to a wiki is much like word processing and changes are instantly available. Wiki environments are usually text based, but can incorporate graphics, audio, video, and animation. You're probably already familiar with the world's best-known wiki, Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia collaboratively authored and edited by millions of users."
http://newington23things.blogspot.com/2009/06/thing-21-wikis.html
- As a way to organize and coordinate extracurricular activities (i.e. the History Club or the Chess Club).
- As a way to provide students the opportunity to respond (blog-like) to a discussion prompt.
- As a way to share content (uploaded videos, documents, images, maps, etc.) with students - as extension of classroom instruction, or for additional review.
- As a way to foster collaboration among students - (i.e. on group projects).
- Because wikis are an efficient/easy way to communicate information and encourage collaboration, there are nearly endless possibilities for the ways in which they can be used for educational purposes.
http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Articles+and+Resources
http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis
http://amityelementspace.wikispaces.com/
https://nhsprojectpathfinders.wikispaces.com/
http://comparinghemispheres.wikispaces.com/
http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/?t=anon
http://geresources.wikispaces.com/
http://arborheights.wikispaces.com/
http://westwood.wikispaces.com/
http://latinpoetryvocab.wikispaces.com/ (Mr. McCarthy's Wiki)
http://latinitasubique.wikispaces.com/ (Mr. McCarthy's Wiki #2)
http://latinii-translation.wikispaces.com/ (Mr. McCarthy's Wiki #3)
http://bhartleynhs.wikispaces.com (Mr. Hartley's WIki)
http:amuracanhs.wikispaces.com (Ms. Muraca's Wiki)
http://nhsprojectpathfinders.wikispaces.com (NHS LMS Wiki)
And...
http://www.wikipedia.com
Note: Most Wikis require a fee, or annoying advertisements. Educational Wikis, however, are free (no fee) and free (no ads).
Follow these steps to establish your own Wikispace.
A. Go to the following site: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b08aQe0BXlwAbove is a link to a video that provides help for setting up a Wiki.
2. Begin Editing your Wiki.
A. Click the Edit Tab/Button to the right/top of your Wiki page.
- Type some content - maybe "Welcome to Mr./Mrs. 's Wikispace". Then Click "Save".
- The content you typed/created is now saved to your wiki.
B. Click the Edit Tab/Button again.- Click the "Insert Table" Button on the Editor Toolbar.
- Select a number of rows and columns for the Table.
- Tables are one of the easier ways to organize/format content on a Wiki - although they are not necessary.
C. Click the Insert "Images and Files" Button on the Editor Toolbar.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPcarUB3QtE
Above is a video that provides some help for Editing and Adding Content to a Wiki.
Before going any further, please "Save" the changes that you've made to your Wiki so far.
D. To add a Widget to your Wiki.
Get a Voki now!
Above are two examples of widgets.
- Browse some of the following websites - which contain many different kinds of widgets.
Polldaddyinteractive pollsMiniclockjust what it says, a mini clock
ClustrMaps visual map of who visits your blog
Vokispeaking character - REALLY fun to play with
Google Gadgetscollection of Google widgets
Widgetboxhuge assortment of widgets
Widgetbox: Educationlist of education related widgets
PBS Teacher Activity Packseducation related widgetsExamples of Widgets were "borrowed" by Mrs. Plourd and Mrs. Joseph @ http://newington23things.blogspot.com/2009/06/thing-21-wikis.html)
Now put some of your skills to work. Edit this page and post a question or comment about Wikis below.
(Don't forget to log-in to this wiki in order to make comments/edits below.)
http://amuracanhs.wikispaces.com/U.S.+History+Level+I